)Herbert Johnson Hats
Herbert Johnson has a tradition of exceptional quality, style and elegance. "Indiana Jones Agrees".
The establishment of Herbert Johnson was the consequence of a Royal caprice. In 1889, The Prince of Wales, leader of the smart set, and a gentleman of fastidious taste advised the young Johnson, then a mere apprentice, to set up his own venture. Encouraged by such a patron, Herbert Johnson found a partner and opened a store in Bond Street. From that day onwards Herbert Johnson has been proud to serve Royal houses at home and abroad.
The traditions of exceptional quality, impeccable craftsmanship and exquisite taste continue to be appreciated by the discerning to this day. In 1996 the establishments of Swaine Adeney Brigg and Herbert Johnson came together at our present location.
Our customers are a veritable Who’s Who of the Worlds statesmen, business leaders and society figures whom our legendary discretion forbids us to mention. Amongst the great entertainers we count as our customers the popular singers Sir Elton John, Jamiroquai, Pavarotti and Oasis.
We have over a century of experience here at your disposal and can cater for all your millinery needs be it formal headwear, luxury fur felt hats, tweed caps, summer hats, winter millinery, bridal or classic couture millinery.
The Indy Hat
Before Herbert Johnson moved to its present location sharing the store with Swaine Adeney it was situated at 13 Old Burlington Street. One rather uneventful afternoon two gentlemen came in and introduced themselves as Mr. Harrison Ford and Mr. Stephen Spielburg. Little did we envisage at this point that the following conversation involving hats was going to produce one of the most instantly recognizable iconic pieces of headwear of the decade.
Mr. Spielburg announced that he was on the brink of making an adventure film with Mr. Ford as the central figure and said that a hat was required as pivotal to the character and the plot. The Salesperson courteously asked if there was a particular period involved, and finding they did not want anything too specific, he suggested employing the oldest shape still being manufactured and carried in open stock. A tall crowned wide brim fur felt called ‘The Poet’, as it had been made continuously since the 1890’s and was “ageless”. As the character was to use it in different terrains a shade of brown called Sable was chosen.
To make the hat very distinctive, we shaped the brim into an ovoid to give protection to the eyes and neck, reducing the sides also helped with camera angles. The brim was pulled down to give an explorer/safari look, the original ribbon being changed from 50mm to 39mm to make the tall crown appear even taller. This we set about whilst the future Indiana Jones patiently waited for the hat’s return from the workroom. When the hat reappeared it had been totally transformed and they appeared pleased.
We carefully noted what we had been done and made a template as the original hat was to have a test run. It evidently worked as the following week we received an order for 45 units of assorted sizes, for Mr. Ford and the remainder for assorted stunt extras.
Since the huge success of the films, we have had the pleasure of making dozens of Indy’s for the aficionados of the films. Each one is carefully cut by hand using the original patterns. Each size is ever so slightly tailored to keep the hat in proportion to the wearer’s hat size and each one hand rubbed to give it its unique shape. Every hat to this day is given the same unique attention as was given to that first one on that eventful day.
http://www.swaineadeney.co.uk/bespoke_o ... adies_hats
Cheers
Ace
welcome on board and could you show us pics of your 80's HJ? 
:D:D
